Getting tuned, check list?

[nascarnate326]

I am getting my car tuned soon and I wanted to double check that I am getting all the correct things done.


!egr
!air
!vats
!cags
!cats
!rear 02's
17in wheels
- Premium gas power tuning- slightly confused on this.
knock retard because of headers

Would raising my rev limiter to 6000 really get me anything? Id rather error on the side of caution but if my 160k mile car will take it, then I will do it. I dont go that high usually but there has to be a reason GM set it to 5850...right?



Thoughts?

[Fbomb]

Seems about right. Premium gas power tuning should just advance your WOT spark curve a bit to get the most out of the increased octane level. Raising your rev limiter might get you a little bit on the top because you have headers now, and they breathe better up top than the stock manifolds. You doing mail-order or street tune?

[nascarnate326]

Seems about right. Premium gas power tuning should just advance your WOT spark curve a bit to get the most out of the increased octane level. Raising your rev limiter might get you a little bit on the top because you have headers now, and they breathe better up top than the stock manifolds. You doing mail-order or street tune?

Sending it to Ion at madtuner.com.

He has a section on his website where people write in, that sold me over pcmforless.

Since my car isnt cam'd I dont think a dyno or street tune is necessary.

[Fbomb]

I would get a wideband too...

[MunsterZ28]

I would get a wideband too...

a disco light? if hes not tuning himself its kinda a waste of money in my opinion.

[meissen]

a disco light? if hes not tuning himself its kinda a waste of money in my opinion.

Without a wideband, he can't confirm that Ion's tune is spot on IMHO. For all he knows, he could be driving his car thinking it's tuned properly while it's running WOT at 18 afr.

[JoeliusZ28]

you dont need to change the tune for wheels unless your changing tire diameter too. I wouldnt change the rev limiter, stock cam doesnt pull that high. I never even hit the 5850 limiter before I did the cam. ... Now i hit it all the time You were probably shifting mid/low 4000s with the old setup. You shifted conservatively and the stock tach isnt accurate!

Id say yes on a wideband if it was an unusual setup. He should have done 100s of bolt on cars by now, it would be pretty sad if the tuner cant get the AFR right without a wideband.

[MP81]

a disco light? if hes not tuning himself its kinda a waste of money in my opinion.

That's a narrowband

Without a wideband, he can't confirm that Ion's tune is spot on IMHO. For all he knows, he could be driving his car thinking it's tuned properly while it's running WOT at 18 afr.

Exactly - my wideband has come in incredibly handy - and it's nice to have after the fact too.

[JoeliusZ28]

Yours has been handy because you were a pioneer in your build. Bolt-on LT1s have been running around for 15 years. Ion has been tuning them as far back as i can remember. A wideband would be a complete waste of money in nates case just to get the tune 2% better.

[ThreeHonks]

totally agree with Joel on the wideband. Im sure that Ion wouldnt even change the fueling parameters at all with just having headers and he has the stock injectors in there too so that didnt even change. I guess im just not on the wideband bandwagon

[TrickyTransAm]

1. Get a guarantee of some sort, if he can't get it right, then you can get your money back to go elsewhere.
There's lots of "Experts" out there that are seriously under-delivering. I already found a couple....

2.Find out his support options. You don't want to be left stranded if he's got a month or so response time.

3. Print out the website pages of the pricing, etc in the event things go sour in a hurry, you've got your documents. (Good to do anyway so you know who did what later on)

4. If you have any laptop data logging software it may be helpful to give him a few data logs of the O2's, MAF, Throttle, vehicle speed, RPM, etc. before you send it out.
At least that way he has an idea of where the car is, and may get him closer to a perfect tune the first time around. (He may be able to pick up on mechanical issues that would be otherwise unknown i.e. timing, flaky O2 data, etc).
Mabee someone on here would be kind enough to help you out with an Autotap scanner or sorts to get some data logs.
If you run into issues with the tune when you get it back, you will at least be able to data log what's going on which may shorten programming time.

5. Include a sheet with your bolt on goodies, so he knows exactly what you've got. Cam card, heads, MAF sensor, etc if theyre not stock.

6. Premium Tune - How are you going to drive this vehicle? If its a Daily Driver in the summer, it may be to your benefit to do a dual octane tune. Midgrade for your pocket during daily driven events, premium performance for the weekend or track. All will depend on how radical your mods are though. If you can get away with a dual tune, that's what I would do - but thats just my opinion. You want it to be fun, not draining your pocket every time you go out.

7. Ask if he locks the PCM. In the event you need to go back or elsewhere, you want to do it freely, not have to pay an unlock fee plus S&H.

I agree with the guys above - save your money and get an Innovate LC-1 Wideband O2 - theyre fairly cheap, and are NOT a disco light like a narrow band.

Everybody's got their own budget, but if I had to do it over again (Which I do) I would just go see the boys in Dearborn and be done with it.

[1BADAIR]

why delete vats? want someone to steal the car? if the car is stolen with it disabled they can void your policy

[nascarnate326]

why delete vats? want someone to steal the car? if the car is stolen with it disabled they can void your policy

not if I tell them not to check the box for anti theft system. my insurance is higher because of that I think.

[BP_Z28]

Frost tune ftmfw. Does he do LT1s?

[TrickyTransAm]

not if I tell them not to check the box for anti theft system. my insurance is higher because of that I think.

Ok... Dumb question.
Why would you disable the vats, avoid an insurance premium discount, and risk loosing your car to a thief?